Young Tech Exec Neal Sáles-Griffin Launching Bid for Chicago Mayor


With Chicago’s mayoral election 10 months away, the ranks of challengers to Mayor Rahm Emanuel are swelling.

On Wednesday, activist and community Ja’mal Green was scheduled to announced his candidacy. He joins a group that includes former Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas, businessman Willie Wilson, principals’ union head Troy LaRaviere – and nonprofit executive Neal Sáles-Griffin.

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The 30-year-old Chicago native is CEO of CodeNow, which teaches coding and technology skills to young people. He previously co-founded the coding bootcamp The Starter League, which has worked with Chicago Public Schools and the City Colleges of Chicago, and which he later sold. He’s also an adjunct professor at Northwestern University.

Sáles-Griffin filed his paperwork with the state Board of Elections last November. His campaign plans a kickoff event Saturday.

Sáles-Griffin joins Chicago Tonight for a conversation.

More interviews with mayoral candidates:

Susana Mendoza

La Shawn Ford

William J. Kelly

Gery Chico

Bill Daley

Amara Enyia

John Kozlar

Lori Lightfoot

Paul Vallas

Ja’Mal Green

Dorothy Brown

Troy LaRaviere

Willie Wilson

Garry McCarthy


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